Since the late 1970s a vast body of research has developed investigating the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) around components in cement paste (for example, aggregates and fibres) where the microstructure of the paste is different than that of the bulk paste. This book addresses the need to resolve the ITZ's influence on engineering and durability characteristics of cementitious composites in order to identify what systems and which properties are affected by it, and to quantify these effects in order to prepare the base for engineering design tools. This volume presents the proceedings of the Second International RILEM Conference on the Interfacial Transition Zone in Cementious Composites, held in Haifa, Israel in 1998. The primary aim of the conference was to clarify the role of the ITZ on engineering properties (such as strength, rigiditty and ductility) and durability characteristics (related to interfacial reactions and diffusion and permeability). A wide variety of properties of actual cementitious systems are addressed, enhancing the understanding of the interfacial effects on properties of cementitious composities which are of practical significance.

This book addresses the need to resolve the ITZ's influence on engineering and durability characteristics of cementious composites, identifies the systems and properties that are affected by it, and quantifies these effects in order to prepare the base for engineering design tools. This volume presents the proceedings of the Second International RILEM conference on the Interfacial Transition Zone in cementious composites, held in Haifa, Israel in 1998.